Painting rear shock springs?

[1978GS750E]

I've got a lot of rust on the rear factory shock springs off of one of my GS750's. Anyone ever tried to paint the springs? What paint did you use? How did it hold up?

[jsandidge]

I sandblasted my original ones and painted them with black appliance epoxy. It held up well, but take note, it takes a loooong time to cure. Don't compress the springs for at least a couple weeks if you want the finish to stay smooth.

[cowboyup3371]

Are they the stock springs? If so, why not just upgrade your shocks to Hagons or Progressives?

[bonanzadave]

black appliance epoxy.

$4.00

Hagons or Progressives?

$250-$400

Thats why

Check out the Parts For Sale section. A guy like Mr. Witttom might have a nice used pair.....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?237326-Parting-Out-GS850-GS750-GS650-GS550-Reboot-2016

[RichDesmond]

Yeah, but the aftermarket shocks will have actual damping.

[jsandidge]

Yeah, but the aftermarket shocks will have actual damping.

Very true. I rode one season on my very bouncy, painted shocks. Then I upgraded to a set of hagons on the rear and sonic springs up front. What a difference!

[Joe Garfield]

Yeah, but the aftermarket shocks will have actual damping.

Posts like these really make me wish this forum had a 'like' button

What an amazing difference it is to upgrade from 30+ year old shocks to even the cheapest pair of Hagons! I know people don't want to spend a bunch of money on a bike 'that isn't worth much' - but thorough enjoyment of your riding time is worth so much! And the new shocks opened the envelope, so to speak, on what I can do with my bike and how I ride it.

Regarding paint: shock springs are constantly moving when you ride, so my thought is that any kind of 'paint' that stays flexible would be best. And if they're chrome they probably need some kind of surface prep, which could be hard to do on all sides of the spring.

Hagon shocks are $220 list.

I could be coerced into selling mine (low miles) for a little less. I love them but now have been thinking about fully adjustable and rebuild able shocks after getting spoiled by my 2016.

[azr]

You'll have to blast the chrome to make the paint adhere and I'd bake them (crappy old toaster over or BBQ) to make sure the pain really holds up. Works fine enough if you're happy enough with the old shocks. Lots of guys buy new shocks but I've followed (tried to keep up) to enough riders on here that still have the old shocks, and even the stock front springs, to know that you don't always need to have the newest and greatest to be able to have fun and ride hard.